VASK Commences Year-long “Amputation-free Kerala” Campaign

KOZHIKODE:
Concerned over nearly 30 amputations being done daily in Kerala due to vascular diseases, Vascular Society of Kerala (VASK) has rolled out its year-long awareness campaign, “Amputation-free Kerala,” which aims to avoid amputation through effective vascular surgery and make the treatment popular among public.

Dr Beena Philip, Mayor, Kozhikode, inaugurated the campaign at Star Care Hospital on Friday.

As part of the campaign, which coincides with the “National Vascular Day ,“ VASK, in association with Indian Medical Association (IMA)-Thiruvananthapuram Chapter, conducted awareness programmes across the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.

Dr RC Sreekumar, President, VASK, and Head, Vascular Surgery Department, Medical College Hospital (MCH), Thiruvananthapuram; Dr Binny John, Additional Professor and Vascular Surgeon, MCH, Kottayam; Dr Vimal Iype, Senior Consultant, Vascular and Endo Vascular Surgery Department, Lourde Hospital, Kochi; and Dr Sunil Rajendran, Vascular Surgeon, Star Care Hospital, Kozhikode, expressed concern over the increasing number of patients with vascular diseases due to delay in seeking timely medical intervention.

The blockage to the blood passage through the limbs necessitate amputation. Lack of proper awareness about the disease and delay in effective scientific treatment lead to a person’s physical disability. By ensuring timely vascular surgery treatment, the patient can be saved from being crippled by limb amputation.

Medical studies show that the number of diabetic patients will rise significantly by 2030, and this will aggravate vascular diseases. In this scenario, VASK is taking the onus of spreading the right kind of awareness among people.

Dr Iype, who is also the Secretary of VASK, said awareness is vital to make “Amputation-free Kerala” mission a reality. The office-bearers of VASK informed that steps had been taken, district-wise, to make the service of expert doctors available.

VASK is an organisation comprising expert doctors specialising in vascular surgery and angioplasty in peripheral arteries.

The details, including the phone numbers of vascular surgeons, will be made available on the official website of VASK.